Myanmar’s cardinal has called on the military and militias to show “mercy” on the poverty-stricken populations caught in the crossfire of the country’s ongoing ethnic conflicts. Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon also called out the country’s religious leaders for their “criminal” silence about the violence in the country.

“Not a single day passes without the heart wrenching news of innocent civilians being displaced or killed or maimed by the ongoing conflict in Lashio, other Northern regions and Rakhine State,” the cardinal said in an Oct. 1 statement.

“I had served as the priest and bishop in this area for almost 20 years. Most of these people are extremely poor and innocent people,” Bo continued. “Striving for basic needs is their daily unending struggle. No group had done any economic development for these people.”

Myanmar has been transitioning from a military dictatorship since Nobel Laureate Aung San SuuKyi’s National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the 2015 general election.